Highways England to spend £7m on schemes to cut traffic delays

Highways England will invest more than £7m in a number of schemes aimed at enhancing journeys, creating jobs and building homes.

Funding from Highways England’s Growth and Housing Fund budget includes almost £4m for junction improvement schemes around the A45 in Northamptonshire.

Project funding also includes £3m for junction improvement schemes around the M42 and M5 in Worcestershire, along with nearly £620,000 for Moor Lane Roundabout in Exeter.

Highways England senior investment planning manager Ian Parsons said: “Our roads are vital for the country and its economic success; they connect businesses and communities and support employment and new homes.

“All of our improvements will ultimately ensure our roads continue to improve journeys and unlock the potential for new jobs and homes.”

The £4m scheme for Northamptonshire includes junction improvements at Queen Eleanor, Brackmills and Great Billing junctions along the A45.

Northamptonshire County Council will be responsible for executing the improvement scheme that will support additional 14,500 homes in the wider area and create nearly 3,000 jobs.

The Northamptonshire improvements scheme is scheduled to start in June this year. It is estimated to become operational by March 2021.

Highways England will invest £2.68m to support two schemes around junction 4 of the M5 and junction 1 of the M42 near Bromsgrove in Worcestershire.

As part of the improvements, the A38 at junction 1 of the M42 and at M5 junction 4 to Lydiate Ash Road will be widened to curb traffic delays. The project will support 1,946 homes and the opening of new offices and warehouses in the area.

Nearly £619,000 will be invested by Highways England to build additional lanes on the southern approach to Moor Lane Roundabout and improve local road access from the A30.

The project is intended to offer benefits to Exeter and the surrounding area. It is hoped these plans will cut traffic jams during peak hours in the area, especially on the M5 junction 29 exit slip roads, and improve journey times.

Devon County Council is carrying out the £2.23m scheme in Exeter, which is also being supported by the Department for Transport’s National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF) with £858,000 in funding. A further £750,000 is coming from the private sector.